Clutch



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H. W. KRAG .Fully 16, 1935.

CLUTCH Filed Jan. 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l l H. W. KRG

CLUTCH VFiled Jan. 2, 1955 July 16, 1935.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 16, 1935 zbeaozs i Harry Krag, St. I oiiis, Mo., assigner to American Shoe Machinery Louis, Mo.,

and Tool Company, St.

a corporation of Missouri :Application January 2, 1935, serial No. 10

:Liane-.invention relates generally to friction clutcheshaving a driving and a driven memberv i mounted ona rotatable `'shaft and particularly tothe means forengaging Vand disengaging the i? driven member.` i

One object ofthe "invention is to provide a simplejcompact and eiilcient clutch-operating mechanism in which the rotatable parts a-re en` closed within a housingperinitting `the operating i? parts therein torun` in a bath of oil. Another object islto, effectively guard the operatingparts. Another object is to quickly stop the' driven meinb'erlwhen disengaged. Another object is to norm limitthe travelof the manual control to "'prevent1fexcessfrictional load on .the rotatable parts. f v i VfInithe accompanying drawings, wherein like symbols referto like parts,- i Figui is an. assembly view in elevation of the `'l" clutch Inechanisinmounted on a rotatable shaft shoyvingthe position. llingoil Wellytovproper-level, l'ig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view showing the engaging means, the operating,means,` the driven member, the; driving `member and the retaining collar .inV non-driving relation,

'F'g. 3'5isfa View `on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2 and shoi'vs theinanual control,

ng Pari? n lvof;the actuating mechanism; 5 is a. sectionalview on the line 5-5 in Jfis a detail elevation showing a diiferent position of the manual control shown in lig.v 3, Fig. 7 isi a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing theparts in driving relation; and

ffi'g. 8 isa" sectional View on'the line 8 3 of FJZ."

-rtatabie shaft l has a driving member 2 Thev W* thereon, on which is a frictional facing 3.

driver? is held on said shaft l by a set screw 4. A sleeve' 5 is `pressed intoa pulley or driven memberfdandformsan extended hub portion there-5` therein' forming A of. [S aid pulley ,has a chamber l n l-f`air oil well. The sleeve l5` has a counterborer'a invvhich isa springf. A pressure collar 9 is interposed between saidspring Si` and-an abutment'- collar lil Asecured to said shaft by suitable fasteningmeans as 'a screw i l. Ahousing l2 is slida- `bly`journa1ed`on sleeve `5 and has an oil well I3 thereinl As hereinafter described, suitable means areprovided for filling the oil well to proper level(Fig. 1)V and'distributing` the oil over the isurpius-oil to thewaii Irving; zi. i

bearing area androtating parts and returningthe of the clutchl pulley when" 4f is`V Aa `detail perspective 4view of a clipz engaged,

. eolaims. (o1. 19a-6e) 1 A clip i4 of U-shape (Figs. 2, 3 and 4') is disposed in agroove l5 in said sleeve 5, with its 'opening at the top to facilitate assembly. A yoke I6 straoldles said housing and is secured to said clip by screws` il 'in holes ila in said clip 5'1 and passing through aperturesi in said housing l2 that are large enough to permit limited transn verse movement of said yoke ends. Said yoke le is fulcrumedon aV pin i9 supported by the housing i2 and extending through the groove |51 10" in the extended hub portion 5 of the driven member ii. Said pin i9 is retained by cotterv pins 28. 'at the ends thereof. The end 2l of the yoke l is bifurcated permitting a link t2 to slide tljieref` in, a pin 23Jat the bifuleated end'of the yokel cooperating with a slot 24 in the end of the link 22. Said link 22 is pivotally comiected to arod end or 'slide member 25, Said rod e'nd`-25 is,i mounted on a post 26 which is suitai'ilyv fastened in the housing l2. The rod end 25 has a` slot v2T co-acting with a stop pin 28 in the post 26. 'Ihls4 the rod end is permitted limited sliding movement ori said post 26. Referring to Fig. 3, 29 is a part of the particular machine on which Vthe clutch is used and has a bracket 3o mounted thereon.4 An operating hand lever 3l is pivotally mounted on said bracket at 32 and is connectedV to a clutch rod 33 at 34. Movernent'of the hand lever 3i is limited by a stop 3 5 on the hand lever and an abutment- 38 on the bracket 38 for the stop 3,5. The clutch'rod 331 is loosely connected to the yrod end 25 by a screw 3l threaded into the rod end 25 and locked with anut 3B leavingplayat fpermittihg limited transverse movement of clutch mechanism; The

f end of the rod end Edeis recessed to receive the r'odii; A screw vconriectssaid hand lever 3lA and said clutch rod 33. `Betvveen the head Miof the screw 35i and the hand lever 3l is a-spring- M1. Thecluteh rod 33 is'threa-ded torec'eive the 40 screw 3ft which is scr'ewedinto compress spring 41! and locked with a nut-452, to hold the clutch rod 33 in yielding engagement With the cooperatinglface of the hand levejl." y vThe housing `l2 is provided with oil cups 43j for filling the oil Well l 3. The oil is put intothe front OiIeup as the mechanism is mounted on the niathe cupy is b eloW the bearhousinglto a point Where the oill would run out' of'50 the end of the housing vat the pulley end and drip' on the pulley and belt. V

The 'oil is fed to the sleeve Eby a Wick 44 and it A' is carried around thesle'evevrlien` the clutch is 'lubricating the'eiip |74 and the pressure- 55 collar 9. well by collecting grooves well.

In the shaft bearing of sleeve 5 are two recesses 46, (Fig. 2), for felt oil pads 41. These oil pads are fed with oil from the well l through holes 48 which are so spaced that the centers are approximately coincident with the side walls of the well. At each end of the bearing are oil collecting grooves 49. Intersecting these collecting grooves at each end are two elongated ring grooves 5U opposed and crossing each other at the oil pad recess as shown in Fig. 8.

The function of the ring grooves 50 intersecting the oil collecting grooves 49 at the ends of the bearing is to return the surplus oil that works out to the collecting grooves.

The pulley is oiled by means of one of two plugs 5| as shown in Fig. l. As shown in Fig. 1, the pulley is brought to a definite position in relation to the housing indicated by marks 52 and 53 on the pulley 6 and thehousing I2, respectively. In this position the front oil plug 5| will be below the bottom of the shaft and prevent flooding the bearing. The oil pads receive oil each time the clutch is disengaged. One or the other is always in the feeding area as the oil runs down the sides of the well when subsiding from the centrifugal force which held it at the periphery of the well when the clutch was engaged.

The purpose of the second oil plug 5| in the pulley and the second oil cup 43 inthe housing is to permit the mechanism to be mounted on the shaft in opposed position to that shown in the drawings with the same function as described.

The surplus oil is returned to the oil 45, which drain to the Operation When the clutch is disengaged, the hand lever 3| is down as shown in Fig. 3 and the corresponding position of the rod end 25 is up. The link 22 has a toggle action and in the disengaged position shown has passed over center or the point of maximum extension of the link and the movement imparted to yoke I6 has moved the sleeveY 5 with pulley attached toward the housing l2, neces- -l further movement of said hand lever in a direction that would pull the housing I2 transverselyv of the shaft, and thus cause side strain and unnecessary friction between said shaft and the parts in which it rotates.

In the arrangement illustrated, the rod 33 is made in one piece with ther distance between 3l and 34 a predetermined length. Thus the rod 33 serves as a link connecting the hand lever 3| and the rod end 25 and preventing housing I2 from rotating. In setting the hand lever 3|, the screw 30a of the bracket 30 is released, the clutch rod is then pulled up until the lower end of the slot 21 engages the pin 28. In this position the toggle link 22 has passed over center, the. action compressing spring 8. The distance the link has passed over center is sufficient to cause the rod end 25 and rod 33 to normally retain the disengaged position. The bracket 3D is now set so that the abutment 36 engages the stop 35 on the handl lever 3| after which it is locked with screw 30a.

When the clutch is disengaged, as shown in Fig. 2, the spring 4| pulls the clutch rod 33 and the parts associated with the lower end thereof in the direction of the set collar IU, thereby holding the driven member 6 away from the driver 2. The spring 4| also acts as a dampener to check vibration in the loosely connected clutch rod 33.

To engage the clutch, the hand lever 3| is raised to the position shown in Fig. 6, the member 29 limiting the upward motion. The corresponding positions of rod end 25 and yoke I6 are shown in Fig. 7. The axial movement of the rod end 25 imparts a movement to the link 22 in excess of the movement of the yoke I6, hence the purpose of the slot 24 which maintains engagement of link and pin 23 while the pressure surface of the slot moves away from the pin is to permit engagement of the clutch and to provide for greater movement of yoke I6 in case of wear. When the hand lever and rod end are in the position shown in Fig. 6, the yoke IB is released and the spring 8 then exerts its pressure against the driver 2 and the driven member or pulley 6 and the sleeve E, the spring 8, and the pressure collar S all revolve with the shaft, and the housing I2 with clip |4 float on sleeve 5 and are prevented from rotating by the clutch rod. During the engaged period, the housing I2 and clip |4 are lubricated from the oil well provided in the housing, all surplus oil returning to the oil well.

When the clutch is disengaged the spring B is compressed, the driven member is influenced away from the driver and the sleeve 5 floats on the shaft supporting the housing in frictional engagement with clip I4. The sleeve 5 is lubricated from the oil well in the driven member or pulley. This oil well level is maintained as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in which case the pulley is brought to denite position in relation to the housing so that the oil plug will be below the bottom of the shaft and prevent flooding the bearing. As above described, suitable provisions are made for distributing the oil over the surface of the sleeve bearing.

The foregoing description is the embodiment of a clutch mechanismy adapted to be operated with very little attention. All of the running parts are enclosed and the construction permits constant lubrication. It is particularly adaptable for use in applications where there is considerable dust or abrasive material from sanding wheels that might fall on unprotected running parts and cause excessive wear and short life to the mechanism. The clutch mechanism may be transposed on the shaft Without affecting the engage-d or disengaged positions of the hand lever.

Obviously numerous changes may be made without departing from the invention and I doV not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown.

What I claim is:

l. A clutch mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving member and a spaced stop collar secured thereto, a drivenk member rotatably mounted on said shaft with limited axial movement between said driving member and said stop collar, a spring within said driven member to urge same into frictional engagement with the .driving member, a housing rotatably mountedA onl an extended hub of the driven member, a yoke lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends onA said housing, and a U-clip mounted in an annular groove provided therefor in the extended hubv of the driven member, said yoke lever being connected to said clip at one of its ends and to actu- Y ma ating `means at` the;otherienditofengageqor diez-1 engagesaidclutcha 2.; `2. 1A' clutch mechanisml comprising a;rotatable. shaft." ,ai driving membergand ai .spaced .stop collar. secured thereto, a :adriven fmemberf-rotatably;V mounted. on;` said :shaft with :limited axiaLmove-n` ment betwoensaid drivingmemberfand said stop. collar," awspring Within ssaid. driven; member `to urge same Iinto `frictional.-engagement .with4 they driving member, `a housing .rotatably ,mounted orr ait-extended" hub of thaodriven, member,=a@yokel lever pivotallyfimounted"intermediateits endson` said housingand1aU-c1ip mounted inan annular, groove .provided thereforfim the extendedfhubinf; the; driven. irneznberg.` saidl yokeA *lever #being 1con-f nectedto said clip; at 'ione of its ends and to actuating means at the other end to engage or disengage said clutch, said actuating means comprisingl a post secured to said housing, a rod end slidably mounted on said post and a link pivotally connected to said rodend and adapted to engage the other end of said yoke, said sliding movement of said rod end actuating said yoke to engage or disengage said` clutch.

3. A` clutch mechanism comprising a rotatable Y shaft, a driving member and a spaced stop collar secured thereto, a driven member rotatably mounted on said shaft with limited axial move'- ment between said driving member and said stop collar, a spring within'said driven member to urge` same into frictional engagement with the driving member, a housing rotatably mounted on an extended hubof the driven member, a yoke lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said housing, and a U-clip mounted in an annular groove provided therefor in the extended hub of the driven member, said yoke lever being connected to said clip at one of its ends and to actui ating means at the other end to engage or disengage said clutch, said actuatingvmeansV comprising a post secured to said housing, a rod end slidably mounted on said post and a link pivotally connected to said rod end andadapted to engage the other end of said yoke, said sliding movement of said rod end actuating said yoke to engage or disengage said clutch, the movement in one direction limited to pass over the point of maximum extension of said link and movement in the other direction retracting saidrlink a distance'in excess `of the normal travel of saidyoke.

4. A clutch mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving member and a spaced stop collar secured to said shaft, a driven member rotatably mounted on said shaft adjacentto said driving member and having an Yextended hub portion projecting from the side remote from said driving member, said hub portion having a peripheral groove, a pulley wheel mounted on said driven memberv and having a portion adapted for frictional engagement with said driving member, a housing rotatably mounted on said hub portion, a U-clip mounted in said groove of said hub portion with its opening uppermost, a yoke lever disposed with its arms straddling said housing and pivotally jecting from the sideremote from said drivingY member, said hub portion having a peripheral onsaidE 'driven-.mmberf and'` having` afqportion adaptedlfor.frictionallengagement with l'said' drive` ingmembei, a housing?rotatablymounted orrsaidV hubiporticn, ai: U.clip Vmounted in said `groove of. said hub portionawith its. opening uppermost, a yoke lever' disposed'. witlrits arms'- straddling said housing and pivotally secured. theretoqby means oa pin extending. through said. groove infsaid hub port-ion,F thev ends. of said farms'. being. secured to said fclip`,.a post mounted onisai'd housing, `a rod end slidably` mounted .on Vsaid post,.means.limit1. ing .the slidingrmovement;oi-'saidrod end, a. link operatively connecting,saidrodieni and. saidyoke lever;` abrackeula' handlever-1pi-vota1ly securedlto. said bracket, a link loosely connected at one end to said rod end, a screw pivotally connecting the other end of said link with said hand lever and a spring interposed between the head of said screw and said hand lever.

6. A clutch mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving member and a spacedV stop collar secured to said shaft, a driven member rotatablyr groove, a spring in said driven member urging it into engaged position, a pulley wheel mounted on said driven member and having a portion adapted for frictional engagement with said driving member, a housing rotatably mounted on said hub portion, a U-clip mounted in said groove of said hub portion with its opening uppermost, a yoke lever disposed with its arms straddling said housing andfpivotally secured thereto by means of a pin extending through said groove in said hub portion, the ends of said arms being secured to said clip, a post mounted on said housing, a rod end slidably mounted on said post, means limiting the sliding movement of said rod end, a link pivotally secured at one end to said rod end, the

other end of said link having a recess therein, a Y

member and having an extended hub portion projecting from the side remote from saiddriving member, said hub portion having a peripheral groove, a lspring in said driven member urging it into engaged position with said driving member, a housing rotatably mounted on said hub portion and means for causing relative axial movement of said hub'portion and said housing tc` engage and disengage said clutch, said housing having a lubricant well therein, a wick dipping into said well and extending along the outer surface of said ,extended hub portion.

' 8. .A clutch mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving member and a spaced stop collar secured to said shaft, a driven member rotatably mounted on said shaft adjacent to said driving member and having an extended hub portion prof jecting from the side remote from said driving member, said hub portion having a peripheral groove, a spring in said driven member urging it `into engaged position, a pulley Wheel mounted on said driven member and having a portion adapted for frictional engagement with said driving memmounted on said shaft adjacent to said driving Y ber, a housing rotatably mounted on said hub portion, said driven member having a bearing sleeve portion and an enlarged body portioncon= taining a lubricant well, said bearing portion having longitudinal grooves in its inner Wall, and pads in said grooves, said bearing portion having openings permitting lubricant to pass from said well onto said pads for lubricating said shaft.

9. A clutch mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving member and a spaced stop collar secured to said shaft, a driven member rotatably mounted on said shaft adjacent to said driving member and having an extended hub portion projecting from the sideremote from said driving member, said hub portion having a peripheral groove, a spring in said driven member urging it into engaged position, a pulley wheel mounted on said driven member and having a portion adapted for frictional engagement with said driving member, a housing rotatably mounted on said hub portion, said driven member having a bearing sleeve portion and an enlarged body portion containing a lubricant well, said bearing portion having longitudinal grooves in its inner wall, vand pads in said grooves, said bearing portion having openings permitting lubricant to pass from said well onto said pads for lubricating said shaft, said bearing portion having lubricant retaining grooves in its inner periphery at each end and said shaft having pairs of angularly disposed an-y nular grooves, intersecting adjacent to said pads.

HARRY W. KRAG. 

